OT: Would our beloved 4th gen make it thru Congo?
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chayos00
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Only being on page three I would say with locking front and rear diff's, alteast a 4-6 inch lift and some 36x12.5+ MT tire. Maybe the guy who did the solid front axle conversion could make it. Plus all the proper recovery gear.
IDK it could be possible. Also to be pretty stupid to want to go over to that part of the world, your nuts!
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Now that I'm on page 42, IDK if there would be any vehicle that would be up to par to be able to make it. I sure as heck wouldn't take any brand new vehicle down that path, but then again any older vehicle will break down much easier too! I'd say it's a death trap for whatever vehicle you are going to take. As far as a capable vehicle I'd want something that has a crapload of ground clearance and is small enough to fit through those narrow paths that they had to go through.
IDK it could be possible. Also to be pretty stupid to want to go over to that part of the world, your nuts!
****EDIT****
Now that I'm on page 42, IDK if there would be any vehicle that would be up to par to be able to make it. I sure as heck wouldn't take any brand new vehicle down that path, but then again any older vehicle will break down much easier too! I'd say it's a death trap for whatever vehicle you are going to take. As far as a capable vehicle I'd want something that has a crapload of ground clearance and is small enough to fit through those narrow paths that they had to go through.
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of all the members heer, you and your 4r would be one of those with the best chances at survival.
jetboy1975
New member
WOW! What an amazing, crazy adventure, just spent all night reading and couldn't stop, want more. Thanks for posting link.
BlairB
New member
of all the members heer, you and your 4r would be one of those with the best chances at survival.
I have a lot of things planned (hopefully for the near future) that will make my truck much better equipped for something like this. But I have a lonnnng way to go.
Conspearasea
New member
I'm only on page 5 and I'm hooked, nice story telling of what seems to be an amazing adventure.
Can you imagine the "taxes" they would ask you for if you showed up in a nice 4th gen ?
Can you imagine the "taxes" they would ask you for if you showed up in a nice 4th gen ?
Wow...An amazing story..These two are lucky to have been able to do this, although Im at a loss as to whether they:
both have a brass set or are just lucky and naive.
To have embarked on such a journey alone is rather mind boggling.
Also, they did this without KDSS, locking differential, crawl control, ATRAC and VSC!
both have a brass set or are just lucky and naive.
To have embarked on such a journey alone is rather mind boggling.
Also, they did this without KDSS, locking differential, crawl control, ATRAC and VSC!
i couldn't care less about what truck they used (though i kinda do want a landcruiser now
). in fact, all that electronic gizmo crap can turn into a liability. i wonder if the 4r could even make this trip since the fancy v6/8 in the 4th gens require nice, clean unleaded fuel. id take paolo's advice and go with an LC 7X. f land rover :flipoff:so it's the human side of the story, their lessons, the vantage point, the huge risk (life!) that makes this adventure so meaningful. i love their humble attitude and candor.
what's crazy too is that this wasn't a one-off... this trip was a continuation of their Asia overland expedition.
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i couldn't care less about what truck they used (though i kinda do want a landcruiser now
so it's the human side of the story, their lessons, the vantage point, the huge risk (life!) that makes this adventure so meaningful. i love their humble attitude and candor.
what's crazy too is that this wasn't a one-off... this trip was a continuation of their Asia overland expedition.
Actually, seeing as how they had trouble finding parts for their LC, and had to scavenge parts from another LC to get theirs in some kind of working order, I dont think youd want to take anything OTHER than a LC through that area.
can u imagine trying to get an LC 7X to do what your 4runner does in our suburbia/urban life? i wonder how it'd do.
i read the whole dang trip report in one sitting. they have some sort of internet broadcast next week. good stuff.
A10MileHusker
New member
As long as you're equipped, yes, you would make it. I know of many vehicles that would make it. More specifically, AlexJet would absolutely make it. He has a great expo rig for long expeditions.
I used to own a Range Rover and did a few trails with it but didn't have a lift or anything and I was able to run my 4R better stock than my Range Rover. Now I dont have any experience with Defenders or Land Rovers but I think they are all priced for people who could buy Mercedes G Wagons and when you get to that price, why the wheel it? Thai, possible chime in?
But love the story, and yes think a properly equipped 4R could definitely make it,
Doug
I used to own a Range Rover and did a few trails with it but didn't have a lift or anything and I was able to run my 4R better stock than my Range Rover. Now I dont have any experience with Defenders or Land Rovers but I think they are all priced for people who could buy Mercedes G Wagons and when you get to that price, why the wheel it? Thai, possible chime in?
But love the story, and yes think a properly equipped 4R could definitely make it,
Doug
leftyguns21
New member
awesome trip. i only got through page 24 before my work shift ended. ill have to pick it back up tomorrow.
Mr. Leary
New member
I doubt that there is any vehicle that could make it through the DRC besides the 70 series LC, with a possible exception for a convoy of well built 80 series LCs. I say this for a few reasons. First, you could never reasonably carry enough spare parts for your vehicle to survive a constant pounding over a distance similar to covering a loop Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. A good strategy would be to drive in a convoy of trucks with the same parts, so the load of spares could be split between the trucks. The 70 series LC is the only vehicle in that part of the world that is supported with spare parts. Second, the 4th gen 4Runner lacks the cargo carrying capacity to complete the expedition. Their truck weighed in at 4 tons with all their gear. The 4th gen will be squatting with only half a ton payload. The weight of the 4 batteries they needed for the trip would be a third of the available payload. Add food for two months. Add gear for camping for two years (remember this was but a small part of their trip). Add 400 pound for driver and co-driver. No available payload left for spares. Third, the fact that a 4th gen would stick out so much would be bad ju-ju. Its one thing to drive a vehicle that is used by the UN, another to be a foreigner driving a flashy vehicle that none of them have ever seen before. You would get robbed at the very least, if not killed.
This trip took them 40-some odd days with an average speed measured in the single digits due to severity of terrain. ANY vehicle submitted to that amount of punishment will break, probably multiple times. New 4Runners, IMO are too modern / complicated to be easily repaired in the feild. One can carry spare sensors, but at some point the spares load will become excessive. Any parts not carried would take weeks or months to get there. Some parts are best sourced locally, and 4th gen 4Runners arent local there.
So my answer is a definite "NO" but it would be cool if someone proved me wrong.
This trip took them 40-some odd days with an average speed measured in the single digits due to severity of terrain. ANY vehicle submitted to that amount of punishment will break, probably multiple times. New 4Runners, IMO are too modern / complicated to be easily repaired in the feild. One can carry spare sensors, but at some point the spares load will become excessive. Any parts not carried would take weeks or months to get there. Some parts are best sourced locally, and 4th gen 4Runners arent local there.
So my answer is a definite "NO" but it would be cool if someone proved me wrong.
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quicksilvr
New member
^I agree with Mr. Leary 100%.
Not that other vehicles could not physically complete the obstacles they had to....no other vehicles could make that "trip" as a whole. Amazing story. He should put it in book form and make some $$.
Not that other vehicles could not physically complete the obstacles they had to....no other vehicles could make that "trip" as a whole. Amazing story. He should put it in book form and make some $$.
